
An invasive predator that can grow up to 20 feet long, weigh over 100 kilograms, and consume prey six times its size has become a major concern in southern Florida.
Residents have spent decades grappling with the rapid expansion of the Burmese python population in the Everglades, an apex predator wreaking havoc on one of America’s most biodiverse regions.
A recent study in Reptiles and Amphibians examined the jaw capacity of three Burmese pythons to measure their maximal gape, or how wide they can open their mouths. Researchers discovered all three snakes had a gape of 26 cm (10 inches)—wider than previously recorded and comparable to the size of a dinner plate. The smallest of the snakes had consumed a 35 kg deer, underscoring their formidable feeding capabilities.
With no other apex predators in the Everglades, Burmese pythons have devastated native wildlife. A 2012 study revealed dramatic declines in populations of raccoons, opossums, and marsh rabbits, some of which have nearly disappeared since 1997. These invasive snakes, native to Southeast Asia, have adapted seamlessly to the Florida ecosystem, disrupting its delicate balance.
The origins of the Burmese python problem are shrouded in a mix of dramatic events and human missteps. One widely cited story links the population boom to Hurricane Andrew, a catastrophic Category 5 storm that struck Miami in 1992. The storm destroyed a reptile breeding centre, allegedly releasing hundreds of juvenile pythons into the wild.
However, a 2011 study suggests the issue began earlier, with pet owners releasing snakes into the wild before 1985. While isolated sightings date back to 1979, it wasn’t until the late 1990s that a reproducing population was established, leading to an explosion in numbers.
Hatchling pythons, measuring just 22 inches at birth, can grow to nine feet by age five, reaching sexual maturity and producing up to 100 eggs annually. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) estimates the population now ranges from 100,000 to 300,000, though efforts are underway to reduce their numbers.
Florida has implemented a series of measures to combat the python invasion. Since 2017, the Python Elimination Program has paid residents to humanely euthanise the snakes, offering additional incentives based on size. The annual Python Challenge awards up to $30,000 to amateur hunters over a 10-day competition.
Other strategies include using trained dogs like Python Pete to sniff out the snakes and employing tagged male pythons to locate breeding females. These efforts have yielded some success, with over 14,000 pythons removed since 2017, according to Rodney Barreto, Chairman of the FWC.
Despite these measures, eradicating the species entirely remains unlikely. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) says “controlling their numbers and preventing their spread out of the area are critical goals for conservation efforts and land managers.”
While Burmese pythons pose minimal direct risk to humans—there are no recorded deaths from wild pythons in Florida—the USGS advises avoiding interaction with these large constrictors.
The battle against the Burmese python is a stark reminder of the ecological consequences of invasive species and the importance of proactive conservation efforts to protect native ecosystems.
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